More success for Primary Growth Partnership programmes

Primary
Industries Minister Nathan Guy is welcoming success by three
Primary Growth Partnership (PGP) programmes this week,
including an award nomination for a revolutionary seafood
programme.

“The Precision Seafood Harvesting Programme
has been nominated for a KiwiNet Research & Business
Partnership Award. This is fitting recognition for a
programme that could revolutionise the global fishing
industry.

“The programme is developing new sustainable
fishing technology that will allow fish to be landed on
fishing boats alive, and in perfect condition, while safely
releasing small fish and other species.

“The potential
economic and environmental benefits of this are huge, and
it’s no surprise it is attracting so much attention. This
is a $52 million project with funding coming from both
industry and government.”

Another PGP programme -
Shellfish Production and Technology New Zealand Ltd (SPATnz)
- has also reached a milestone in selective breeding of
greenshell mussels.

Scientists have begun nurturing 80
‘families’ of hatchery-produced baby mussels (spat), and
will soon transfer a crop of selectively bred mussels to a
marine farm.

“This is an important step towards
selectively breeding mussels with traits such as a faster
growth rate, increased resilience and vibrant colour. This
will improve returns for the mussel industry, reduce
reliance on wild-caught spat, and boost New Zealand’s
exports.

“Another major milestone has also been achieved
by the Transforming the Dairy Value Chain PGP programme, led
by Dairy NZ and Fonterra.

“Scientific research conducted
by Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) has discovered a
‘fat gene’, providing a genetic explanation as to why
some cows produce higher fat content in their milk than
others.

“This is one of only a few cases worldwide where
the underlying gene affecting differences in milk
composition has been identified.

“These three programmes
have demonstrated why PGP is such an important tool in
boosting the productivity and profitability of our primary
sector,” says Mr Guy.

Background on
PGP

• There are now 18 PGP programmes announced with
$708 million in funding committed from both industry and
government. The potential benefit to the wider economy from
these programmes is estimated to be around $7 billion per
year from 2025.

• The PGP aims to boost the productivity
and profitability of our primary sector through investment
between government and industry. It provides an essential
springboard to enable New Zealand to stay at the forefront
of primary sector innovation.

• PGP programmes are
generally long-run programmes of five to seven years’
duration and are subject to oversight and monitoring by an
independent panel (the Investment Advisory Panel) and
MPI.

• Monitoring requirements include programme
steering groups, quarterly progress reporting, annual plans,
audits, and progress reviews, along with evaluation of the
overall programme. Funding is only released to programmes on
receipt of invoices for work completed in accordance with
programme plans.

• MPI is now seeking applications for
new Primary Growth Partnership programmes. Applications must
be received by MPI by 12pm on Wednesday 25 June. See the PGP
webpage on MPI’s website for further information and
guidance.

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